Friday, June 29, 2012

15 Reasons Why The Obamacare Decision Is A Mind Blowing Disaster For America

Michael Snyder has put together an excellent recap of some of the major problems with Obamacare:

#1 According to the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal government has the power to force you to buy private goods and services. Now that this door has been opened, what else will we be forced to buy in the future?

#2 Obamacare is another step away from individual liberty and another step toward a “nanny state” where the government dominates our lives from the cradle to the grave.

#3 The IRS is now going to be given the task of hunting down and penalizing millions of Americans that do not have any health insurance. In fact, the Obama administration has given the IRS 500 million extra dollars “outside the normal appropriations process” to help them enforce the provisions of Obamacare that they are in charge of overseeing.

#4 Obamacare imposes more than 20 new taxes on the American people. You can find a comprehensive list of Obamacare taxes right here. If you love paying higher taxes, then you are going to absolutely love Obamacare once it is fully implemented.

#5 In an attempt to “control costs” and “promote efficiency”, Obamacare limits the treatment options that doctors and patients can consider. This is likely to result in a decrease in life expectancy in the United States.

#6 Obamacare is going to impose nightmarish paperwork burdens on doctors, hospitals and the rest of the healthcare system. This is going to significantly increase our healthcare costs as a nation.

#8 Many small businesses are going to be absolutely crushed by the provisions in Obamacare that require them to provide expensive health insurance coverage for their employees. This is going to make them even less competitive with companies in other countries where businesses are not required to provide healthcare for their workers. This is also going to make it even less attractive for businesses to hire new employees.

#10 Obamacare has already forced the cancellation of dozens of doctor-owned hospitals.

#11 Obamacare is going to result in a much bigger federal government. In order to fully implement all of the provisions of Obamacare, hordes of new government bureaucrats will be required.

#12 Thanks to Obamacare, you are going to have to wait much longer to see a doctor. Just look at what happened once Romneycare was implemented in Massachusetts….

In fact, we have already seen the start of this process in Massachusetts, where Mitt Romney’s health care reforms were nearly identical to President Obama’s. Romney’s reforms increased the demand for health care but did nothing to expand the supply of physicians. In fact, by cracking down on insurance premiums, Massachusetts pushed insurers to reduce their payments to providers, making it less worthwhile for doctors to expand their practices. As a result, the average wait to get an appointment with a doctor grew from 33 days to over 55 days.

#13 Obamacare contains all kinds of insidious little provisions that most people don’t even know about. The following is one example from the Alliance Defense Fund….

“Did you know that with ObamaCare you will have to pay for life-saving drugs, but life-ending drugs are free. One hundred percent free. If this plan were really about health care wouldn’t it be the other way around?”

#14 As if the U.S. government was not facing enough of a crisis with entitlement spending, it is being projected that Obamacare will add 16 million more Americans to the Medicaid rolls. You and I will be paying for all of this.

#15 The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Obamacare will add more than a trillion dollars to government spending over the next decade. Considering the fact that the U.S. government is already drowning in debt, how in the world can we afford this?

27 comments:

”Health care for everybody, by making it illegal not to have health care. It’s so simple, why didn’t we think of this before?” — Tim Slagle

Also, Since AMA's creation of the Council a century ago, the U.S. population (75 million in 1900, 288 million in 2002) has increased in size by 284%, yet the number of medical schools has declined by 26% to 123.

http://mises.org/daily/1547

Its unreal that people think mandatory coverage is the key to reducing healthcare costs and the best way to provide healthcare to the poor.

Why not increase the supply? Abolish the ABA. Drop state licensing. I would prefer to abolish the income tax for all, but I would at least give a golf clap for a politician who suggested exempting doctors from income tax.

Whats likely to happen is that doctors will charge oh... $1000 (?) a year to be put on a special list. If you are on that list you can make an appointment and see the doctor in a day or two. Off the list? Have fun waiting a couple of months.

Effective January 1st - Kansas will cut all individual income tax rates and eliminate individual income tax on non-wage business income (as reported by LLCs, S-corps and sole proprietorships on lines 12, 17, and 18 of the federal form 1040 individual income tax return)... the doctors i know are sole proprietorships... looking forward to paying less taxes in Kansas.....

Never mind the fact that the CBO's projections are usually overly optimistic and always inaccurate. So, I'd bet that the projected $1 trillion of additional debt will look laughably small ten years from now.

This decision is confusing to me for a couple of reasons. 1. The state has had the 'right' to force me to buy auto insurance for year. No one seemed to complain as vigorously when auto insurance became mandated nationally. I know, you don't 'have' to own a car, but for those that do, isn't mandatory coverage the same thing as the individual mandate?2. This law will drive many companies out of business, that is a fact. There are thousands of businesses out there that are just hanging on by a thread. This will be a death blow for them. But I guess that's okay as long as profits in the insurance and health care industry go up. 3. The underground economy is growing larger by the day. This is just the kind of law that will send thousands of entrepreneurs scurrying to the the black market to eek out a living on a cash only basis.

The state can only force you to purchase auto insurance under two conditions:

1. you own a vehicle2. you operate the vehicle on public roads.

The state cannot force you to buy insurance if you own a car but it sits in your garage collecting dust. The state cannot force you to buy insurance if you operate the vehicle exclusively on private property.

Most importantly, the state cannot force you to buy insurance if you don't own a car. Not owning a car is, for lack of a better term, inaction. However, by not purchasing health insurance, which is inaction, the Feds can tax you.

First, auto insurance _isn't_ mandated nationally -- it's entirely up to the states, and some states have relatively painless ways to opt out.

Second, the auto insurance analogy fails not because you don't have to drive a car, but because mandatory auto insurance laws only require _liability_ coverage (and in some states uninsured motorist coverage). You aren't required to carry collision, comprehensive, etc. The argument is that requiring liability insurance ensures that if you harm another's person or property, they can be made whole. Whether that's a good argument is debatable, but in many states you can satisfy the legal requirement by demonstrating financial responsibility instead of buying the insurance.

"Most importantly, the state cannot force you to buy insurance if you don't own a car. Not owning a car is, for lack of a better term, inaction. However, by not purchasing health insurance, which is inaction, the Feds can tax you."

The state mandate still is a mandate for inaction. The inaction of not buying insurance. I get where you were going with that, but to be consistent, inaction still applies in the case of car insurance. The inaction regarding the federal mandate is not buying health care insurance; the inaction of the state mandates is not buying car insurance.

#1 since it was upheld as a tax, wouldn't healthcare be more closely associated with the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax (FICA) on most every person's paychecks? We're already mandated to pay in to Social Security and Medicare.

#2 Again, to reiterate the first point, how often is FICA considered an extension of our “nanny state”?? Social Security is a universal & contributory program. Also, were Americans stripped of their liberty when the federal government introduced public (or 'socialized') education? How about public (or 'socialized') law enforcement and safety? How does a relatively moderate form of 'socialized health care' infringe on our individual liberties?

#4 these '20 new taxes' don't affect everyone. There are taxes for those who refuse to purchase qualifying insurance. A tax for medical device manufacturers. A tax for using indoor tanning salons. A tax for "black liquor" bio-fuel. A tax for those of us who make over $250,000. To say that Obamacare will raise American's taxes twenty times over is pretty misleading.

#5 Currently, the U.S. is 38th in life expectancy. 34th in lowest infant mortality rate. What does every nation ahead of us on the lists have? Some form of socialized healthcare..so if you're genuinely worried about a weak life expectancy, your argument here is null. I will say you're absolutely right in suggesting that Obamacare itself doesn't fix our problems. Unhealthy habits seem to be in the foundations of our current culture (obesity in particular). It's ridiculous that some Obamacare supporters would assume that this will be some sort of 'cure-all.' But expanding access and affordability of health insurance will definitely aid in combating preventable illnesses and deaths.

#6 You're absolutely right: It will expand the workload for the healthcare system. But when has an increase in workload destroyed an industry? especially one as sustainable and robust as the healthcare industry? In my mind, the industry will continue to expand and make room for hands on deck.

No time now, will try to analyze the rest later.. one thing I will say right now is that no piece of legislation this big has ever been all that popular to start-take medicare for example. This was extremely unfavorable under Kennedy and under Johnson according to polls. Now, Medicare is one of the most popular government programs, with overwhelming support.

"Again, to reiterate the first point, how often is FICA considered an extension of our “nanny state”??"

It is a representation of its entrenchment. What it is "considered" to be is irrelevant as to what it actually is.

" Social Security is a universal & contributory program. "

Rofl. it's a ponzi scheme. It's not even actuarially sound.

"Also, were Americans stripped of their liberty when the federal government introduced public (or 'socialized') education?"

Yeah. Do you honestly expect a "no" from here?

"How about public (or 'socialized') law enforcement and safety? "

Yeah. See above.

"How does a relatively moderate form of 'socialized health care' infringe on our individual liberties?"

Rofl. Are you fucking thick? Look pal, if you want to pay for socialised healthcare, be my guest. I do not want this service and I do not want to pay for it. Therefore it is an infringement on my liberty to spend my money and live my life as I see fit. What warrant has the government to interfere with this? Who the fuck are they to be interfering in how I acquire medical services, whom i choose to provide them and what treatments I may or may not receive? Who are they to tell healthcare providers how to go about their business? Or insurers in terms of how much they may charge? They created this situation, the best they can do is go away.

"these '20 new taxes' don't affect everyone."

No shit Sherlock. That there are new taxes is an issue in itself. Every group upon whom the incidence of each of these new taxes will fall is already over-burdened.

" To say that Obamacare will raise American's taxes twenty times over is pretty misleading."

Where did he say this?

"5 Currently, the U.S. is 38th in life expectancy. 34th in lowest infant mortality rate."

Probably because it reports these figures more honestly than most other countries, e.g. Cuba or the UK. There is so much more that factors into life expectancy than whether you are insured or have healthcare or not.

" What does every nation ahead of us on the lists have? Some form of socialized healthcare.."

"so if you're genuinely worried about a weak life expectancy, your argument here is null."

When you come up with an argument as to why this so, let me know.

" I will say you're absolutely right in suggesting that Obamacare itself doesn't fix our problems. Unhealthy habits seem to be in the foundations of our current culture (obesity in particular)."

Then what does instituting UHC have to do with solving this problem?

" It's ridiculous that some Obamacare supporters would assume that this will be some sort of 'cure-all.' But expanding access and affordability of health insurance will definitely aid in combating preventable illnesses and deaths."

I am sure it will. Except that it isn't expanding access or affordability.

"#6 You're absolutely right: It will expand the workload for the healthcare system. But when has an increase in workload destroyed an industry?"

I am genuinely baffled by your stupidity in this respect. The US healthcare system is pricy and inefficient and increasing its workload will somehow make it better? It may not destroy it because the gov't is compelling consumption but it will certainly lower its quality.

" especially one as sustainable and robust as the healthcare industry?"

Rofl. Are you serious?

" In my mind, the industry will continue to expand and make room for hands on deck."

Well it will now, via the compulsory insurance gravy train, like a parasite that can't get enough blood out of its victim so it keeps on sucking more out until it grows so fat as to burst.

"As if the U.S. government was not facing enough of a crisis with entitlement spending, it is being projected that Obamacare will add 16 million more Americans to the Medicaid rolls. You and I will be paying for all of this."

You're already paying this. You're paying every time a person who should qualify for Medicaid but doesn't because the income limit is far too low goes to the emergency room for life-saving procedures because they can't afford insurance. With Medicaid paying those bills, you'll see huge savings in medical costs. One balances out the other, but the difference is that people who need preventative care will receive it, reducing the need for those emergency room visits.

"You're paying every time a person who should qualify for Medicaid but doesn't because the income limit is far too low goes to the emergency room for life-saving procedures because they can't afford insurance."

Rofl. You believe that this minority of uninsured Americans somehow will tally up with the premium increases insurers will wrought below the capped level, and with the premium increases above it? That it will somehow be "balanced" out by the sheer number of new tax sheep? Get real.

" With Medicaid paying those bills,"

Except it won't be paying bills as large as Obamacare will bring about.

"you'll see huge savings in medical costs"

This is called fantasy. In fact, given that the new system will encourage even more frivolous medical consumption, this is outright bullshit.

"One balances out the other, "

Unproven assertion.

"but the difference is that people who need preventative care will receive it, reducing the need for those emergency room visits."

It's their choice to be uninsured. In fact, they shouldn't receive free medical treatment at all, emergency or otherwise.

That you support this programme is ample demonstration that you are another statist clown, willing to trample over the rights of countless others in the name of your own allegedly bleeding heart and (lol) efficiency.

This article is written by someone who focusses only on one side of the story. It is a shame that they have already predicted that no good will come out of this. There are some reasons why US is ranked one of the worst countries in the world for people who are not rich to live in. Europe has some successes and health care is one of them. It is expensive to the government and tax payers. But somethings in the world are not only about the money - and value of an individual's life is one of them. I live in Denmark and we have a fantastic health system that takes care of all of us. We pay high taxes (probably the highest in the world) but we know that it makes the quality of life in our country amazing. Not many people are very happy in life, but us Danes (despite the extremely high taxes) are one of the happiest people in this world - now how many dollars would you have to pay for happiness? I know I am going to piss off a lot of right winged fanatic capitalists, and I dont mean to. I just wanted to give the other side of this terribly lopsided article - Enjoy!

You're not pissing anyone off. You're just giving personal opinion unbacked by fact and couched in collective terms, e.g. "we" are happy. We're not fanatics, the fanatics are those who seek to drive this massive attempt at theft through. Like paying taxes? Do so out of your own pocket, just don't implicate anyone who doesn't want to. Otherwise you're no better than any other common criminal.

For the billionth time, however, the US is only ranked as it is because some countries are far less honest in how they record statistics. That and a major "indicator" that is often cited i.e. life expectancy has precious little to do with healthcare alone. As for the US system being one of the "worst" countries for someone who isn't rich to live in... rofl, your proof for this?

I will love to see how your country is going to finance this when its productivity is pretty much finite, GDP being artificially bloated by govt spending and monetary expansion.

You are absolutely right. If the US is ranked worst for people who are not rich, then why in the world are so many dying to come here either legally or illegally? BTW, how many try to cross the Danish borders illegally every year?

US is and will remain by God's Grace the beacon of freedom in this world. The darkest hours of the day are right before dawn.

MOST of the people in the world have never known true American style freedom. All of europe went almost straight from serfdom under the heel of some vassal to existing under the rule of a monarch to socialist government. Not including, of course, a few years of the exceptional freedom of Naziism (sarcasm). Freedom as intended by the US Constitution will never be known by most of the world's people, And it sounds like the Danes are too "happy" to know liberty if it stabbed them in the chest. Once we Americans tasted it, we will fight like everything to keep it: try to take it from us and we are instantly PISSED!

But Obamacare tries to cut down the health care costs. Isn't it so? Most of the people as it is have their health insurance either as an individual plan or as group plans under their employers. Why make such a fuss over something that tries to bring about change, and that again for the betterment? All those raised eyebrows that the govt tries to force healthcare onto the people. Don't you think that health care is the basic need nowadays and mandatory health care will reduce your risks only. The patients with pre-existing medical conditions - the ones who had to run around to get themselves insured - Won't they be able to benefit out of this Act since the insurers won't be able to refuse them anymore?